Trading Pascal Siakam could prove to be difficult for Raptors

Pascal Siakam may not be as easy for the Toronto Raptors to move as OG Anunoby was.

Veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported that the Raptors star is taking a notable stance on his future. Stein writes that Siakam — if traded —would be unlikely to sign a two-year extension with his new team and would instead prefer to test free agency to gain “ultimate control.”

The two-time All-Star forward is currently in the final season of his contract with Toronto. The Raptors just dealt Anunoby, another homegrown standout, to the New York Knicks, and many anticipate a Siakam trade will follow suit before the deadline (with three teams recently being mentioned in connection with Siakam.)

This report could dampen Siakam's trade market because interested teams wouldn’t get assurance of him signing with them long-term (potentially making him an expensive three-to-four-month rental). Although a new team would gain the advantage of being able to offer the 29-year-old the most money in free agency, none of that will matter if Siakam simply wants to play elsewhere.

There have been some examples of teams succeeding with dice rolls on trades for star players who didn’t originally want to be there. But the big difference here is that Siakam can immediately become a free agent in the summer, making it a highly risky proposition for a team to try and get him right now.